Like a madras sportcoat in summer, plaid peacoats and overcoats in the fall and winter are louder than most will reach for. But since it is the colder part of the year, colors are darker and patterns aren’t nearly as loud.

Both of these are wool mix with a little bit of nylon thrown in. The L.L. Bean Signature is a knee length single breasted, and the BR is a shorter looking cropped style peacoat. Seems like the designers at L.L. Bean Signature updated their wool trench from last year (now marked down to $150) with the bolder pattern.

The ideal length is usually mid thigh, which is long enough to cover a suit jacket easily but doesn’t leave you looking like you’re wearing a bathrobe. Neither of these seem to hit that mi-thigh length (B.R. might be short, L.L. Bean a little long? Maybe?) But the patterns are something. More subtle on the Banana Republic for sure, but the L.L. Bean Signature charcoal plaid is pretty slick. The problem is what happens when you try to wear them with patterned pants, like say a wool herringbone or windowpane. That’s a lot of pattern.

Would you wear one of them? Both of them? Both of them at the same time in an effort to cause spontaneous on the street hypnosis of strangers? Neither? leave your vote below…

*As always, there are B.R. sales often enough that waiting for at least 25% off is the way to go.

I really dig the peacoat, but the trench I’m not so sure about. BR has a MadMen Collection Trench that was originally $225, that I saw yesterday on sale for $160 that’s really awesome. I can’t seem to find a link to it.

I, like most it appears, really like the BR but the trench is just kind of a lot. I just can’t see myself wearing it in as many occasions as the BR. I like the subtlety of the pea coat. It seems like if you were farther away someone would think it was just a normal solid coat but when they get closer it becomes more and more interesting. Whereas, with the trench someone a quarter mile away is saying, “Holy plaid!”

Love the LEC pea coat, and the same for last years herringbone. Too bad they only have L, and I dont need another pea coat.

Looking for something more like the Zara herringbone coat, even though I would prefer something 100% wool and a more substantial feel/quality. Cant beat $170, though, and can always add a barbour underlayer…….. time to go shopping

@35c001d845f62c98f86ea0187ba93975:disqus – Been waiting to get to an H&M to see if they have this one available (when will they make online shopping available like Zara?). I’ve been eyeballing this for some time…it’s similar to what is in the GQ spread. Obviously, I can’t speak for the quality but it won’t be Burberry status.

That’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. I’ll have to check the next time I see an H&M (they don’t have 1 here). I wish a slightly higher quality store would put one out in that $150-250 range. Thanks for the tip.